Decision for the morning outing has been made - to the top of Mount Ulriken it shall be. Another breakfast of muesli and fruit was followed by a picnic making session, the thought being we weren't sure what there would be to eat up there. There was a minor dilemma about the weight of the drinks bottle and whether it was worth carrying, but a sensible 'yes' vote ensured it's place in the backpack. As an aside, there was an interesting sight out of our window at about 8 o'clock this morning, a young lady sunbathing in her bikini on a sloping gable roof of the building opposite - no safety rails or edging to the roof - What??!!!
Eric was looking forward to the ride this morning. We were of course catching the cable car to the top (although you can walk if you really want to).
The 'Ulriken643' terminus is close to where we are staying, and a twenty minute walk passing through what we think was the University Hospital takes us there. Only a 10% discount with the Bergen Card this time, but better than nothing! There follows an admission of error in yesterday's blog - simultaneous brochure reading lead to a mix up on the height and timings to reach the mountain with the funicular railway and the mountain with the cable car. The terminus end at Floyen is at only 320m and the railway takes 18 minutes to reach the top. The cable car to Ulricken is to the higher peak, is 1138m long and this is the one that takes 6 minutes. Bet you're glad we corrected that!
Ascent looking one way
And then the other
Weather is still brilliant although wind a bit chillier at the top. Views from the platform at the top of the cable car ride were pretty amazing.
There were some hikes marked on the information board, a few of which said they were short and easy. The first was to the viewpoint at the top of Mount Ulriken (although technically it has a plateau at the top with a few extra lumpy bits sticking up). A bit like the Canadians, their idea of a short easy walk is not quite the same as ours, although it was purportedly only 1.7 km. The paths were very well used but also very rugged and boulder strewn and to the viewpoint was more of a rock scramble than walk. It was worth it though - you could see for miles in all directions. After all that effort, finding a good sitting-on boulder, the picnic was broken out.
Eric amuses himself at the summit cairn - good job it's not too windy up here today or I'd be blown away.
There's snow up here too...
Which Eric enjoys playing in
Finding another path to return we come across a sign for a circular route and follow this.
Some lovely habitat
Amazingly, there are houses or chalets up here, this one seems to almost have its own infinity pool on the edge of the plateau
As the day wore on more people were disgorged from the cable car, including lots of people in Lycra who came running past us, talking as they go. There were also several school groups of very little children, most didn't look any older than five or six, all with high-vis vests on and backpacks that were nearly as big as they were - no wonder the Norwegians are so fit, they start them young. The circular walk seemed to be taking us downwards
and we had lost the marker posts at some point so a judicious retreat was decided on, we didn't want to end up at the foot of the mountain as we had a return on the cable car. Retracing our steps brought us to the cafe, two cups of expensive (about £4.50 a cup) but enjoyable coffee later and we were ready to descend.
On the way down
Walk back past the accommodation and catch the light rail into town again, past the fish market and alongside the harbour for a while, passing a rather spiffing sailing boat
Shiver me timbers
and through the grounds of the Bergenhus Festingsmusuem, the Rosenkrantz Tower is here but not open until Sunday. As we are trying to get the most out of our Bergen Card we hop on a bus to take us back to the harbour side and The Bryggen.
We've heard a lot about The Bryggen, an area of mediaeval buildings where the international trade in stock fish went on, so the tradesmen lived, worked and stored their stock all in one building. The group of buildings are now a World Heritage Site and a big tourist attraction, with lots of wooden walkways between buildings housing various little high end craft shops and restaurants.
Eric and a stock fish?
Luckily as we walk around we only seem to come across one small tour group, possibly from a cruise ship. In some parts it is reminiscent of the old shopping area in Chester. After buying a cake to share from a famous bakery we sit on the waterfront to devour it. It was totally delicious - yummy scrummy in the extreme. It was so good that we didn't even mind that it had cost us 50 Norwegian Krone The cost was actually 45 NOK but we paid in cash, and similar to in Canada, they don't appear to bother with 'shrapnel' change, so we gave her 200 NOK and she gave us 150 in change - notes only - an experience to learn from methinks. If we'd payed with a credit card it would have cost the 45 NOK.
There is another park to visit on the end of the peninsula, we'll hop on a bus - a good idea that went wrong. Bus going in the wrong direction, but the driver tells us where to go to catch the right one, so off we set along the road to Nordnes. Keep walking, still no bus stop, still no bus stop, still no bus stop...reach the park by Shanks's Pony.
View across the harbour from the park
There are a lot of weird looking teenagers around having barbecues, I say weird because they have red boiler suits covered in various badges and logo type things. Some sort of convention?
Not only weird teenagers but a totem pole as well
This park is heaving with people enjoying themselves, is Thursday the new weekend? Walking on we hope to find a bus for our return, but think that maybe the number 11 route has finished running for the day. Luckily, the route is straightforward as well as interesting, passing through an area of old houses, churches and pollarded trees.
Back on the light rail and walk back to the flat. Our hosts are outside, they have been out collecting Ramsons to eat for dinner. A quick chat reveals the explanation for red suited weird teenagers. They are out celebrating the end of the school year and this is the way they do it (although they still have exams they should be in swatting for apparently). A quick but tasty dinner before collapsing on the sofa after our day's exertions. Still need to check on tomorrow's tour...Zzzzz